Bethlehem Health Fair

I recently set up a table at the Bethlehem Health Fair in Bethlehem, CT to introduce visitors to some vegan treats.  Enthusiasm and interest in learning about healthy eating was high, and I was happy to share my experience of transitioning to a healthy diet 18 years ago.

I made a quick and easy Cannelini Artichoke Heart Dip that I spooned into a pastry bag and piped onto endive leaves and zucchini rounds for a pretty presentation.  These little bite-sized hors d'oeuvres pack a ton of flavor and everyone raved about how delicious they were.

The recipe can be found in my new cookbook, Easy Peasy Vegan Eats, which contains over 100 gluten-free vegan recipes that are simple to prepare, yet also healthy and delicious.  I was happy to surprise even skeptics that vegan food can be tasty!

Several people came to me with health-related questions.  One woman had recently discovered she's allergic to eggs and dairy and needs to stay away from wheat.  She was depressed at the thought of giving up so many foods she's eaten her whole life, but after we talked for a little while, she was happy to learn that my cookbook covered all of those bases and offered some exciting new ways to prepare ingredients that were new to her.  She eagerly bought a copy and said she couldn't wait to get started!

A man came to me explaining that he had heart disease and seven stents, and his doctor recommended he lose weight.  He had recently seen the documentary Forks Over Knives and was considering switching to a vegan diet.  After we spoke for a while and I answered many of his questions, he left for a bit, then came back with his wife because she's the one who does the cooking.  After she tasted the bean dip, she was happy to buy a cookbook and said was looking forward to making it at home for them.

This was a great opportunity to advocate a whole foods vegan diet for health, and I also provided free literature from Vegan Outreach to expose attendees to the ethical reasons as well.  I'm glad to have been part of this event.  Thank you Pat and Erika Ueberbacher for your hard work and invitation to participate, and for taking photos!

Vegan Diets Go Mainstream

I was so excited to be interviewed by Korky Vann for this article, "Turn Over a New Leaf: Vegan Diets Are Moving More Solidly Into the Mainstream," which appeared in today's Hartford Courant. She did an excellent job informing readers how easy it is to be vegan.

"There's a new food trend simmering, but if you want to give it a try, you'll have to revise your grocery list. Meat, poultry and fish? Out. Milk, cheese, eggs and dairy of any kind? Gone. Oh yes, and that bear-shaped container of honey in your cabinet? History.

Instead, you'll be stocking up on fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and soy products, all mainstays of a vegan diet. But forget the things you've heard about this type of cooking being boring and tasteless. Vegan gourmet is in, and that's no tofu baloney."

Read the rest here.